JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – What the Jacksonville Jaguars are going to do with the first overall pick in the NFL draft isn’t as clear as it was when they picked first last season.
That was a no-brainer: They were taking quarterback Trevor Lawrence.
This year, there are multiple options in play: Pass-rushers Aidan Hutchinson and Kayvon Thibodeaux and offensive tackles Evan Neal and Ikem Ekwonu. Maybe even someone else.
The Jaguars’ decision, however, depends on left tackle Cam Robinson.
Robinson is an impending free agent, and the Jaguars must decide what to do with him. Do they use the franchise tag for the second year in a row? Sign him to a long-term deal? Let him walk? If they bring him back, the first pick isn’t likely to be an offensive tackle. If they don’t, they may pick a tackle – but it could be another month before that becomes clear.
The first day teams can use the franchise tag is Tuesday, and they have until 4 p.m. ET on March 8 to do so. If the Jaguars use it on Robinson he’d be owed $16.5 million and the salary would be fully guaranteed. The Jaguars also could try to sign Robinson to a new contract and Spotrac projects a market value of a $16.8 million annual salary, slightly higher than the franchise tag.
Either way, Robinson would be protecting Lawrence’s blind side at least in 2022. The Jaguars could opt to have Robinson also has allowed 29 sacks, per ESPN Stats & Information. For comparison, Taylor has allowed 40 in 12 fewer games.
CINCINNATI — Schoolchildren in Cincinnati will have something to cheer about no matter what happens in Super Bowl LVI.
Cincinnati Public Schools announced Monday that staff and students will have the day off Feb. 14, the day after the Bengals play the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI.
1 Related
In a letter sent to parents that was obtained by ESPN, the city’s largest school district cited “celebrating” the Bengals’ first Super Bowl victory as the reason it amended the academic calendar and made Feb. 14 a day off.
“We hope that you enjoy roaring the Bengals to a win on Sunday and take this time to take pride in our incredible city and amazing football team,” the district said in the statement to parents.
CPS board member Mike Moroski told the Cincinnati Enquirer that students in the district typically are off on the Monday after the Super Bowl. However, this year, the school calendar didn’t line up with Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium in the Los Angeles area. After the Bengals reached the title game by defeating the favored Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, a request was made to change that, and it was OK’d.
The Kansas City Chiefs released cornerback Damon Arnette from his futures contract, a source confirmed to ESPN, after he was arrested on gun and drug charges in Las Vegas early Saturday morning.
Arnette’s contract with the Chiefs wasn’t to start until the 2022 league year begins in March, and the 2020 first-round draft pick was not with the team as it prepared for Sunday’s AFC Championship Game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Arrowhead Stadium.
Arnette, 25, was jailed in Las Vegas early Saturday morning on two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, carrying or concealing a gun without a permit, possession of marijuana or cannabis, and possession of a controlled substance, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Arnette was released by the Las Vegas Raiders in November after video surfaced of him making death threats while brandishing firearms. He also is facing lawsuits stemming from a Las Vegas car crash in October 2020.
Arnette was selected by the Raiders out of Ohio State in the first round of the 2020 draft. He played for them in 13 games with seven starts and three passes defended.